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"Hear that, she called you a cadet!" Riimack teased as he walked beside the very tired orange dragoness, her wings and tail drooping with exhaustion, every few feet she would adjust her wings as her wingtips occasionally dragged on the ground. With a glare from her amber eyes, she gave Riimack a defeated look, walking slowly she continued to carry the dummy rocket launcher in her powerful jaws. The weight of it a constant burden on her jaw and neck as she tried to keep her posture as proud as possible.

Riimack chuckled at her unimpressed expression, his friendly smile lighting up his snout, "oh come on, it's a big deal, it means you are one of us now." He said and gave her a wink, chuckling as she rolled her eyes. "One day she will salute you!" He added with a playful shove.

Taalli let out a whine of protest as his strong muscular body pushed hers to the side, having to take a few quick steps to retain her balance before looking back at him and giving him a snarl, her orange lips lifting up slightly to reveal the sharp ivory teeth that clamped around the launcher, much to Riimmack's amusement, his deep chuckle sounding like rolling boulders in time with his wings bouncing slightly in merriment.

As they entered the mess hall, Taalli's nostrils flared slightly, the scent of hot crispy bacon, fried eggs, cheese and hot baked beans filled her snout, her mouth watering and stomach growling, reminding her how long it had been since she had eaten a hot meal, even longer since she had had such a calorie dense one at that. The noise on the other hand was almost deafening as the cadets talked while eating, a group of them were throwing something between one another while shouting. Taalli tried to ignore them as she saw the small line for food, "come on, let's get some food quick. If you're not done by the time they say stop, it's too bad " Riimack warned and guided her to the queue.

Taalli nodded in agreement, as they made their way to the line of dragons in front of them, looking ahead she quickly understood the etiquette, dragons would collect a plate from the stack and place it on the counter. Humans on the other side of the counter would then scoop out the food and pile the plates before the dragon would move on and find a seat. She smiled into the rocket launcher she carried in her mouth as she formulated a joke regarding the lack of table service.

As Taalli glanced around the bustling mess hall, she couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance it bore to a massive hangar. The towering tin roof above was supported by sturdy I beams, creating a vaulted ceiling that allowed the heat to disperse efficiently. However, the same design choice didn't do much to muffle the cacophony of sounds that reverberated through the space.

The clattering of trays echoed like thunderbolts against the hard surfaces, blending with the lively chatter of the rest of the flight caused Taalli to become overwhelmed, while she enjoyed the chaos of a certain dimly lit bar, the mess hall sounded more like being inside a toolbox as it fell down a flight of stairs.

As they collected their plates, Taalli transferred the launcher to under one arm and proceeded to awkwardly hobble on three legs down the line. The kitchen staff gave her a judgmental look at the training rocket but didn't say anything as they scooped up the food and slopped it down on her plate. She gave a nod of thanks as they finished and picked up the plate in her mouth. The close proximity of the food to her snout causing her stomach to growl loudly as she waited for Riimack and looked for a table.

Riimack held his plate in his mouth and gave a nod in a direction where there were still a few spots free. As they walked, Taalli couldn't help but notice many of the dragons were looking at them both, their eyes hungry and predatory as they watched her walk. She stumbled when one blew a kiss in her direction, quickly adjusting her feet to balance the food on her plate. Riimack's warning about her being the only 'ness causing her to feel vulnerable. Placing her meal down, she then dumped the AT4 tube next to the table and sat down with a sigh. Looking down at her food, it was a far cry from what she was used to, but she didn't care. The memories of Mike preparing her a similar meal warmed her heart. The care he had taken in assembling the food into the face of a happy dragon made her let out an involuntary croon of longing.

"Oh, it's not that good." Teased Riimack at the sound she made, his voice loud enough to be heard over the noise of the cadets and smiled when he saw her glare at him. Riimack letting out a soft chuckle as a smile crept into the corners of her orange snout. Licking his lips, he started eating his meal, taking his time to scoop the beans up with a rasher of crispy bacon before delicately picking the mixture up with two talons and devouring it. "What?" He teased as he saw her watching him, Taalli only responding with a shake of her head and a smile before eating her own breakfast. The warm meal doing wonders to shake off the exhaustion that still lingered in her body from her night of flying and morning exercise, between the meal and the morning light streaming in from the windows she could feel her body start to trick itself into thinking it had just woken up despite the constant groggy fog that hung in her mind.

As she ate, she noticed a strange decoration on the otherwise sparse wall above the kitchen. A pair of large tan dragon wings stretched out at full extension, even from where she sat, she could see marks and holes in the thin membranes, evidence of the injuries its owner must have endured. "What's with them?" Taalli asked after she swallowed and nodded towards the wings.

Riimack's blue eyes flicked to the wall before going back to his food "I heard they are the drill Sargent's wings." He said while scooping up another mouthful of beans with his bacon. Taalli looked back up at them and noticed that they matched the Sargent's colours perfectly, but she found herself now with more questions. Riimack could sense her mind working and swallowed, "no one knows how or why." He spoke. Taalli opened her mouth to ask a follow up question but was interrupted by the sounds of dragons hooting and hollering from a table next to hers.

Turning her head over she saw that whatever had been thrown around the mess hall had made its way to the table. She couldn't help but crane her head up before quickly lowering it again in embarrassment, the harness that Riimack had ripped off of her during her unannounced arrival was now the focus of the flight of dragons.

"That's mine" Taalli murmured softly at the sight of her tattered harness being tossed around by the rest of the recruits. Her voice was barely audible and was quickly ignored by the dragons as they passed it to one another, each one giving it a sniff and making a comment about its scent. Every vulgar comment causing Taalli to die a little inside, her orange scales on her snout quickly turning crimson as she lowered herself down, trying to make herself as small as possible. "Don't make a scene, it's ruined anyway." She thought to herself over and over again.

"Yo! Pass it here, Killer! Give us a hit!" Boomed Riimack playfully and reared up on his hind legs to full height. Taalli's breath hitched at his betrayal, her hopes of him being not like the rest quickly dashed when she saw his broad grin encouraging them. The dragon holding the harness smiled and gave it one last deep sniff, bringing his head up with eyes closed and a wide smile before he threw it to Riimack, the large dragon reaching over Taalli to snatch it mid-flight. Taalli feeling like the smallest creature in the world as even Riimack joined in with the game.

Riimack's playful expression disappeared, his smile turning into a stern look as his eyes focused on the other dragons in the hall. As he sat back down, the whole mess hall fell silent as he passed the remnants of her harness back to her. "I think you dropped this." He said softly and she quickly snatched it from him, tucking it under her body along with her paws and focused on her half-eaten meal, the feeling of the whole mess hall staring into her making her wish she was anywhere else.

"Oh, I get it!" Shouted one of the dragons, "someone's trying to get a bit of a Riim job!" The entire mess hall roared in laughter. "Hey, he can go first, as long as I go second!" shouted a different dragon, "Oh, you love the sloppy seconds don't you!" called yet another. Riimack just gave a snarl of warning before turning back to his food ignoring the rest of their remarks.

"Showing weakness only feeds them." he said to Taalli with a firm but friendly voice. The orange dragoness was very focused on the last of her food as she tried to ignore the rest of the world. "You will need to step up if you don't want to be stepped on." he added softly before returning to his meal. Glancing over he could tell she was frozen as her mind tried to grapple the new hostile environment she had found herself in, letting out a sigh he knew he hadn't helped. He lowered his head next to hers, his warm breath tickling her neck as he whispered, "Sorry, I didn't mean to be so blunt, but I won't always be here to fight your battles. Okay?" he offered and saw her give a subtle nod.

A sudden presence beside Taalli jolted her out of her meal, her orange-scaled body tensing as she caught sight of a looming figure. It was a massive green dragon, uncomfortably close for her liking. The once lively mess hall fell into an eerie silence as curious eyes fixed upon the unfolding scene.

"Cadet Taalli," spoke the green dragon with an authoritative tone, "because of you, we had to do the Kill. In addition, because you can't land properly. I had to stay back and inventory the launchers."

Taalli inhaled deeply, her gaze meeting the stern eyes of the green dragon. A flicker of familiarity passed through her mind, but she couldn't quite pinpoint where they had crossed paths before. Feeling small and uncertain, she mustered a feeble apology. "Sorry?" she murmured, her voice barely audible. The piercing judgment in Riimack's eyes intensified her unease, urging her to gather her wits. Her paws tightened, talons digging into the solid concrete beneath her as she fought to steady her swirling emotions. The silver and blue dragon's words echoed in her thoughts, urging her to rise to the challenge. With newfound determination, she turned her attention back to the imposing figure of the green dragon.

"Because of you, the kitchen was closed by the time I was finished." He said firmly and looked to her half-eaten plate. "And I am such a fan of the academy's food." He added sarcastically causing a ripple of sarcastic chuckles to echo through the mess hall, momentarily diverting her attention.

The rational part of Taalli's mind whispered for her to surrender the food and avoid any further confrontation. But as she saw the rest of the mess hall waiting for her response, she quickly realized this would be an opportunity to prove herself amongst them.

"Ease up, Jeenik," Riimack warned, his voice dripping with a low, menacing growl as he rose from his seat. Though Jeenik stood a few inches taller, the silver and blue dragon exuded a raw, formidable presence.

"This is between us, Riimack." Jeenik said sternly, quickly dismissing the silver and blue dragon. "Give us your meal, Bitch." He said flatly, his green eyes staring straight into her amber ones in a show of strength.

Taalli's heart was racing, her mind tired and fed up she drew herself up to her feet and looked at the larger green dragon. She was in no position to fight and gave a soft smile as she formulated a response. "It's not my fault you struggle to count, did you run out of toes?" She said flatly, "or did the big numbers scare you?" She added, her voice loud enough for the mess hall to hear. In her peripheral vision she could see the other dragon's jaws dropping at her remark, no one brave enough to laugh.

Jeenik was stunned by the smaller ness and looked her up and down, "you don't remember me, do you?" He spat, mantling his wings slightly to show his golden yellow wings.

Taalli looked at him, his colours did indeed seem familiar but smiled as she retorted, "why are you important or something?" The mess hall erupted in laughter, causing the green dragon's wings to falter slightly, his status amongst the flight being challenged by such a small weak dragoness. Turning his head, he snapped back at the dragons who were laughing, quickly making them silent. Reassured of his position he turned back to Taalli with a snarl, only pausing when he saw the larger silver and blue dragon behind her return one in kind.

Realising that she was not alone he leaned close to the orange dragoness, his voice firm and unwavering, "be careful, little ness." He warned. With a twist of his head and a disgusting wet sound hocked a lump of phlegm and spat a lump of gooey green bile into her food, "if you keep needing your boyfriend to save you, you will never be one of us." He said, smiling to her as he then turned, lifting his tail slightly in a rude gesture. He had only taken a few steps before the sounds of the mess hall returning back to their conversations filled the air, their disappointment that the fight had ended before it had started.

Taalli's heart was hammering in her chest as she looked down at her spoilt food, the large gooey lump of green snot mixing with her beans. Her chest tight and body shaking with rage. The two glands nestled in her throat begging to expel their liquids at the arrogant green, her claws begging to rend his flesh like she had her fathers. The advice from Riimack ringing in her mind, he was right, these males were just like the bullies at school, but this time she could not rely on her father to save her. Deep down she knew that they would never respect her unless she could prove to them that she was just like one of them.

The sound of the mess hall going suddenly silent caused Jeenik to pause, he frowned as he heard a crackling noise and turned just in time to see a flaming metal tray of food being thrown in his direction. His survival instincts quickly taking control as he swiftly raised his wing to shield his face.

While the large wing membranes deflected the tray, the burning food splattered across the sensitive surface causing him to recoil back in pain. Looking to the orange dragoness who sent it he saw her smirk back to him, her orange eyes holding his gaze while a curl of black smoke drifted from the corner of her mouth.

The mess hall was focused on the pair, begging to see how he would react. Unbeknownst to Taalli, the green dragon had quickly made himself the nucleus of the social circles and to challenge his status was a bold move. Sensing the shift in power, however slight, he prowled towards her, wings raised and partially extended to emphasize his larger size. As he approached Taalli held her ground, but her amber eyes darted over his body, assessing his form and coming to the conclusion that he was likely built for strength and not speed.

His eyes were slits as he moved to put the insolent dragoness in her place, his claws clicking on the ground the only sound in the mess hall. Riimack's wing extended slightly over her as he tried to shield her, only for Taalli to recoil away from it and step out into the gap between the tables. The whole mess hall waiting with bated breath at the fight that was about to unfold, the match up was highly in Jeenik's favour however the confidence that Taalli held gave them all pause.

Her body was tired, but the adrenaline pumping through her veins forced the fatigue out of her muscles. Her tail twitching with anticipation, ahead of her was not the rude green dragon that ruined her meal, but the inky black form of her father, the orange scales of her mother and the police that had taken her Mike away. The smug smile that stretched across his arrogant snout never faltered as he saw that she was committed to the fight. The throbbing of her heart filled her ears as her jaw clenched and she crouched down ready to pounce, her claws digging small chips of concrete out of the ground as she prepared her body for the scuffle, the memories of how her father had overpowered her ringing through her mind as she formulated where she would put her paws and jaws.

Jeenik turned to the crowd and chuckled as he saw the smaller orange dragoness get ready to pounce at him, "naww, look at her!" He said smugly, taking another step towards her. Like a coiled spring, Taalli's whole body extended as she launched herself at the throat of the green male, her mouth open and claws out as she focused on latching onto his vulnerable areas.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Jeenik turned and watched Taalli miss his neck by a foot, her jaws clamping down on nothing but air. As she landed on the ground and started to turn, he was already diving into her side, the weight of his body driving the air from her lungs in a pained cry. With a powerful controlled movement, he wrapped his paw around her wing knuckle and forced it down to the ground hard, before moving over the top of her and using another paw to catch the horns on her head and force her face against the concrete with a firm smack that caused her to see stars.

Taalli's heart raced as she was quickly overpowered by the larger male, the weight of his body on her back causing her to whimper, her chest forced to the ground by the firm paw on her wing, With a firm paw he dragged her head to look back between them and watch as he positioned himself over her back, the warmth of his broad green chest against her vulnerable body causing her mind to go into an uncontrollable spiral. She tried to thrash her tail to get any leverage but with practised ease he wrapped her tail with his and pulled it to the side, his strong hips now placed right behind hers. She thrashed as much as she could but his imposing form snuffed out any hope of release, his body just too strong and applying pressure in the weak areas of her body that forced her to be subjected to his touch, with a menacing chuckle that made her stomach drop, his smug face snaking its way down into her field of vision. "Don't worry, this isn't my first time." He said with a sinister smile.

Taalli let out a whimper, her eyes wide at the thought of what was going to happen next, her beating heart and ragged breathing the only sounds in the hall before a voice called out. "Sergeant on station!" the sound causing Jeenik to freeze and when he turned his head, he saw the tan coloured drill sergeant staring at him from across the hall, her lips curled back into a snarl and violet eyes burning into him.

"Next time," he promised with a low whisper and pulled off before he sat to attention, staring forwards.

"Cadet Taalli! What is the meaning of this!" She snarled while walking towards the pair.

With a groan, Taalli lifted her front up off the concrete, her whole-body shuddering as adrenaline and fear coursed through her body. The feeling of helplessness still wracking her mind as she looked around the mess hall, her breathing ragged and eyes flicking between the other cadets. Riimack's large silver body held back by three other dragons, his desperate blue eyes looking to her, wanting to help. She opened her mouth to speak but only a trembling whine came from her mouth, tears filling her eyes as she looked to the sergeant's stoic expression. She glanced to the exit, wanting nothing more than to run and fly to safety, as she took a step the sergeant's voice gave her pause.

"Well, to me, it looks like we have some horny dergs with some pent-up energy!" Shouted the drill Sergeant, her voice carrying across the hall with ease. "Let me remind you all that each of you is a battle brother, or battle sister!" she shouted while pacing in front of the rest of the mess hall. "Now! If any of you are of the orientation that you would rather fuck your own brother or sister, raise your wing!" She said and paused to look at the rest of the flight. "As I fucking hoped so! I have no time for any toothless, egg sucking, nest fucking, lizards in my company, am I understood?" she shouted.

"Yes, Ma'am" the mess hall erupted, their voices powerful and their words punctuated by the hard slap of wings against their sides.

Taalli shifted her attention towards Jeenik, her voice sharp and demanding, "Cadet! Seeing you on top of your battle sister, it makes me wonder, do you want to fuck Cadet Taalli?" Her words cut through the air, her purple eyes darting to Taalli, who instinctively tensed at the mere suggestion.

"No, ma'am" Jeenik's response boomed, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his body taut, bracing himself for the forthcoming reprimand.

With a swiftness that bordered on the impossible, the drill sergeant closed the distance between them, her snout positioned right next to Jeenik's ear, "No what?" she thundered, her voice reverberating through him.

"No, ma'am. This Cadet does not want to fuck Cadet Taalli!" Jeenik shouted, his focus unwaveringly directed at the wall ahead.

"You lying to me Cadet? You find her attractive don't you!" The sergeant barked, her words booming loudly, causing Jeenik to flinch involuntarily.

"No ma'am. This cadet does not find her attractive."

"You want to stick your dick in her, don't you Cadet!" The sergeant's snarl intensified, her lips curling back in an intimidating display.

Jeenik swallowed hard, his eyelids fluttering with every syllable she hurled at him, his response barely escaping his trembling lips, "No! Ma'am!"

"Oh? So, this cadet is gay then, is he?!" She exclaimed at the top of her lungs, her words piercing the air with an edge of accusation.

"No! Ma'am, this cadet is not gay." Jeenik replied, keeping his gaze fixed ahead as the sergeant's snout pressed right next to his ear.

"So, this cadet hates gays, does he?!"

"N-No! Ma'am, this cadet believes being gay is okay." Jeenik stuttered.

"So, you want a dick up your ass, is that what this cadet wants?!" The sergeant's outburst sent flecks of spittle flying from her jaw, some landing on Jeenik's green scales.

"NO! MA'AM, THIS CADET DOES NOT WANT A DICK UP HIS ASS!" he bellowed, his voice resounding at the top of his lungs.

"Well Cadets, it seems Jeenik here is confused!" The drill sergeant shouted before turning to the rest of the mess hall. "Perhaps another kill will help him find himself!" She barked. "Well, snap to it cadets!" Her command was met with a collective groan that rippled through the entire mess hall. "I didn't give you permission to bitch, cadets, Make it a double kill!" Her words dripped with a venomous snarl.

Taalli's heart stopped at the thought of doing another flight to the mountain, yet alone two back-to-back. With a deep inhale she slowly got to her feet with the others, looking around she could see the rest of the flight giving Jeenik filthy looks as they collected their trays and started to file out of the mess hall.

"Cadet Taalli!" Announced the drill Sergeant as she seemed to appear in front of the orange dragoness. "Your medical exam is two days overdue, report to medical immediately." She ordered and smirked when she saw the relief in Taalli's amber eyes.

"Yes ma'am" Taalli said and slapped her wing against her side as hard as she could. "Thank-you ma'am" she added with a nod.

Taalli took two steps towards the exit before turning and returning to her table, looking at her ruined harness she quickly tied the leg loops around each end of the AT4 launcher and slipped her head through a strap. With the weight now around her shoulders instead of her mouth she could walk easier, as she filed out of the mess hall, she saw a couple of the other dragons giving Jeenik a shove, sending him against the door frame as he tried to leave.

Following behind the rest of the flight she stepped outside of the mess hall and watched as they headed to collect their own dummy launchers and take to the sky. Scanning the crowd, she caught a glimpse of Riimack in line who gave her a weak smile before pointing with his snout towards a collection of buildings to the north. Following his gaze, she spotted a large brick building with a red cross painted on the side and gave a nod of thanks to him.

==page break==

The distinct scent of disinfectant and latex permeated the air, tickling Taalli's sensitive nostrils as she ventured deeper into the medical facility. The corridors were wider than she expected, and she came to the realization that it may be designed that way to cater for a stretcher large enough for a dragon.

She padded her way down the hall, looking for the doctor that the receptionist had told her about, the heavy dummy rocket launcher swinging from her neck precariously as she moved. As she rounded a corner, she saw a man leaning out of a door to a private suite. "Ah! You must be the new one. Come on through." He said with a smile.

Taalli dipped her head slightly, acknowledging the doctor's words, and followed him into the room. As she entered, she gently closed the door behind her using her tail, ensuring privacy. The room sprawled out before her, offering enough space for her to extend her wings. Taking a closer look, she noticed that the entire floor was covered with a thick foam, resembling the cushioning found in a gym.

The doctor settled himself in a chair next to a computer, his fingers swiftly tapping away at the keys. "Make yourself comfortable, Taalli," he said, attempting to reassure her. His voice carried a warm tone, coaxing her to feel at ease.

She gave a small nod, appreciating his gesture, and gracefully lowered herself onto her haunches. With a careful movement, she untangled the weighty rocket launcher from around her neck, carefully placing it beside her.

The doctor turned in his chair, his eyes meeting Taalli's gaze. "Alright, before we begin, I want you to understand that whatever we discuss in this room remains strictly confidential. It's our little secret, alright?" His words were accompanied by a friendly smile as he stood up. Taalli's sharp eyes surveyed him, noting the signs of a seasoned soldier despite the touch of grey in his beard. His sun-kissed complexion added a hint of ruggedness to his appearance, contrasting with the strands of silver in his facial hair.

She gave a nod in reply and a weak smile, thinking back to her childhood she was never a fan of doctors. Every time the same questions and the same pokes and prods of firm hands causing her to feel like an animal on display, rather than a person.

"My name is Keith, but you can call me 'doc' okay?" He said and stood up, grabbing a stethoscope. "So, how about you tell me how you are feeling." He said before rubbing the metal probe on his palm to warm it up slightly.

With a sigh, Taalli responded, her voice tinged with weariness, "Mostly tired." She offered a half-hearted smile as she lifted one of her wings, allowing Keith to position himself beside her to listen to her heartbeat.

Keith positioned the stethoscope against her side and adjusted the earpieces. As he attentively listened to the rhythm of her heart, Taalli's gaze wandered over to the desk nearby. Her eyes caught sight of the phone resting next to the computer, and a glimmer of hope sparked within her. She glanced at her harness, silently praying that the business card from Mike's old workplace still lingered within its pockets.

"Your heart is a bit fast, is everything okay?" Keith said before stepping back and gesturing with his hands for her to lower her head.

"I just had an incident in the mess hall," she said flatly as she guided her head down into his hands. She flinched slightly as his hands held her jaw, memories of how Mike would scratch just behind her jawline flooding back, causing her lips to quiver slightly and nostrils flare. wanting nothing more right now than to press her head into Mike's arms and let him firmly hold her.

The slight changes in her facial features did not go unnoticed by the doctor. "Did you win?" He said softly while holding a finger up for her to focus on, watching her amber eyes move from side to side as she tracked his moving finger.

A faint tremor resonated in Taalli's voice as she admitted, "No."

"Well, maybe next time," the doctor offered in a reassuring tone. Relinquishing his hold on her jaws, he returned to his computer, fingers dancing across the keys as he documented his observations. "You know, we don't see many 'nesses come through, and those that do, don't look like you." he remarked, his attention divided between his notes and the conversation. The rhythmic tapping of his fingers echoed in the room, filling the silence between them.

Taalli's voice, weakened by the weight of her emotions, responded softly. "I know."

"Don't worry, I'm sure they will make a killer out of you yet " he said and stood back up. He rose from his chair, a purposeful motion, retrieving a pair of blue gloves from a box mounted on the wall. The gloves snapped snugly onto his hands, the sound echoing through the room, causing Taalli to flinch involuntarily. "Mouth open," he instructed gently, gesturing for her to lower her head once more.

She did as instructed and opened her mouth wide, revealing her sharp ivory teeth for him to see, she could feel him poking around to make sure she didn't have any loose teeth. After a thorough inspection, he withdrew, his focus shifting to her flame glands.

"I see you have flame glands. Do they work okay?" he inquired, his tone carrying a blend of professional interest and genuine curiosity. With deliberate movements, he ran his hands down her neck, his fingers pressing against her throat, searching for any irregularities.

"Yeah, they work," Taalli responded, her voice holding a hint of pride. A flicker of a smile graced her lips as she added, "Though it burns a bit oily."

"That's to be expected," the doctor chimed in, his voice filled with understanding. "You might find it burns more efficiently with increased oxygen." His hands shifted, now resting where her neck met her body. The doctor's touch, firmer than Mike's, evoked a momentary surge of sensations that caused Taalli to close her eyes briefly, her mind drifting into a dreamlike state.

"Any history of illnesses in your family?" the doctor inquired, his hands transitioning to her black wing arm, gently guiding her to extend it. His touch was both comforting and professional, reassuring her that she was in capable hands.

Taalli mused, "no, everyone was always healthy." She said as he walked his hands over her wing arm, gently squeezing as he went, looking for any lumps or scar tissue that may impact her performance. "Your orange scales, are they from your father?" He asked while guiding her wing up to inspect the delicate wing membranes for any puncture marks or signs of tearing.

Taalli turned her head to follow his movements, "mother, the black is from my father." She spoke. "Why's that?"

Keith held her wing knuckle in one hand and gently moved her wing fingers up and down and side to side, checking the range of motion. "It's just I don't see many vibrant dragons enlisting. Most who stand out like you, find themselves in other professions." He explained while moving around her front and proceeding to do the same exercise on the other wing. "When was your last heat?" He asked and noticed her tense at the question. "I'm a doctor Taalli, it's my job to ask these things."

Taalli tried to relax again, feeling vulnerable after the incident in the mess hall. "I shouldn't be due for another month or so." She said weakly, "how does that work here?" She asked, thinking about how much worse the other dragons would become if they were affected by her fertile scent. Back at home she would usually end up confined in her room or wearing heat pads with a cocktail of drugs to suppress her pheromones if she had to go out.

The doctor gently stroked her wing to let her know he was done before speaking warmly, "it's okay, you might find your body changes it's cycle because of the stress. But if it does happen, let me know and I can get some drugs to help." feeling her body still tense at the thought he stepped back and looked up to her, "When on tour, we usually recommend going onto light duties on your final week, More often than not your body will then go on heat when you return home. A mandatory egg test will need to be done before the start of every tour." he said before moving back to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a large syringe. He saw her eyes go wide at the sight of it and tried to give her a reassuring smile. "It's okay we will need to take some blood to get your type, and also run some checks to make sure you're not carrying anything harmful."

"Sorry, I'm just not a fan of needles." Taalli said weakly, trying not to look at it.

Keith smiled and held it behind him as he approached Taalli. "it's okay, big strong 'ness like yourself. You must be used to all sorts of pricks." He teased, causing her to chuckle slightly. "Is your front leg okay?" He asked as he placed a hand on her shoulder. She nodded as she became focused on anything but him. With a reassuring hand he held her forearm and pressed the sharp needle under her scales, with precision he found a large vein and started to draw her blood.

Taalli flinched as she felt the needle prick her, and looked around the room, noticing a framed photo on the wall, a squad of soldiers in full kit with a desert backdrop. Looking closely, she could see the smiling face of the doctor amongst the squad. All of the members of the squad smiling and laughing at some untold joke. "That's my squad" said the doctor as he noticed her looking, his voice warm with nostalgia. "We are between deployments at the moment, it's a good time to up skill or spend time with your other family."

Taalli frowned, "other family?" She asked and felt him chuckle against her.

"It's a joke we have, your squad will become your main family. Those at home, we often call our other family." he said, "Hang around long enough and you will know what I mean." He said as he withdrew the needle, before placing a small cotton ball under the scale. "There, that wasn't too bad, was it?" He said and gave her a firm pat on the shoulder. Taalli's mind anxious as to what it would be like to be overseas with a squad while Mike was left behind, her tail twitching and jaw clenching at the realization that the military was not the safe haven she was hoping for.

Keith looked over and saw her gaze fixated on the phone that stood proudly on his desk, "Can you do magic?" he said and saw her shake her head. "It's okay, it's super rare these days, but the way that you are looking at that phone, I'm not sure if you were trying to make it catch fire or something." he said with a smile.

"Sorry, I-. I want to call someone." She said sadly.

Keith looked at her and then the phone, "Calling home isn't allowed." He said firmly while scratching his grey flecked beard. "Unless you wanted to quit." he stated simply while holding the vial of her blood. Moving over to a large grey machine on his desk and connected the vial to a port on the side, pressing a few buttons on the machine it whirred to life.

Taalli was lost in her thoughts as she processed what would happen if she quit and went home. She would have to explain herself to her father, something she did not want to do. He would of course insist that she work alongside him, and there is no guarantee that he would not find some other way to use her relationship with Mike as some kind of leverage to ensure she did as he said. She took a deep breath and let out a soft sigh, going back would mean she would have to leave Mike for his safety, by staying in the military she could still stay with Mike, albeit in a reduced capacity.

The machine beeped and spat out a report, its scans finished on her blood. Keith ripped the sheet off the roll and had a look at the machine's findings. "Hmm, let's see now. Good news, you are not carrying anything nasty, looks like your jabs are all up to date as well. Someone must be taking care of themselves." he said warmly while using a finger to go down the list. "There is a strange marker here though, I'm not sure exactly what that is." he added and turned to his computer.

"Something wrong?" Taalli asked, her mind being pulled back to the room.

Keith looked at the report again, "I'm not sure, you sure there isn't any history of illness in your family?" He said and looked up to her amber eyes. He frowned when she nodded, "I can run some further tests if you want. It will take a few weeks though."

Taalli sighed and shook her head, "Don't bother. I'm not sure if I will be here in a few days, to be honest." she said in defeat and stood up, dipping her snout under the strap around her rocket launcher and lifted her neck to let it slide down to her shoulders.

The doctor gave her a sad look, "Look, it's not for everyone. If you need to punch out, you wouldn't be the first." He said and gave her a nod and turned back to his computer to finish his report. "We are all done here though." he said finally.

Taalli gave a small nod and turned to the door, pausing when she heard his voice, not much louder than a whisper. "Word of advice though. If your egg was abandoned..." he started and waited for her to turn back to look at him, "Don't say that your paws are from your father." he said and gave her a nod when her eyes widened. "Just wanted to give you some advice." he added with a polite smile.

Taalli closed her mouth quickly and gave a thankful nod to him before turning and leaving the room, her heart racing at being found out. With her AT4 slung around her neck she slowly padded her way back to the assembly area, every step a step closer to the decision she needed to make. "Just hang up the tube, leave, go find Mike, deal with father." She muttered. Her stomach was tight and her body tired as she rehearsed her apology. "I'm sorry father, you were right..." Her words falling short as she imagined his eyes lighting up with glee. "He would probably still send me to prison for a while... Just to prove a point." She muttered to herself.

Looking down at the assembly area, the flight was returning and forming a line, it didn't take much imagination to picture the dragons lining up, the heavy launchers becoming a ball and chain. "Would it be any better" she thought with a chill down her spine, "Mike could visit, but I bet that's how father would make sure we broke up." She mused, her lip quivering at the thought.

She watched as she saw Jeenik land and make his way to the racks of launchers, one by one the tubes were passed to him for storage. Every so often a dragon would thrust theirs into the chest of the green dragon with disdain.

"Move it, Cadets!" howled the drill sergeant, her voice echoing across the assembly area. "You move like old dragons fuck, stow your gear and get to class."

Taalli sat on her haunches, paw resting on her AT4 with defeat in her heart, "maybe prison would be better, they may even put you in an all 'ness prison." She thought, not sure if that would be much better. Looking ahead, the prospect of handing her tube over to Jeenik caused her breathing to become shallow, the image of the smug look that he would give if she gave up making her shiver.

"Still alive Taalli?" A friendly voice called, Riimack's blue wings drooping slightly with fatigue as he trotted over to her, his exhaustion evident in his body yet his smile still effortless. "Come on, class is this way." he added when he saw her look to him, her mouth open to say something, the look of defeat in her eyes not going unnoticed by him. "Come come" he said as he used a wing to turn her around and lead her towards the classrooms. Once she was walking, he retracted his wing and looked to her, "You good?"

Taalli glanced at him, "I think I'm in the wrong place." She said softly, her voice wavering before turning her head back to look at the rack where she needed to store her launcher.

Riimack understood what she meant, but pretended otherwise, "Don't be silly, you are part of this company. Now we get to learn shit." he said happily. Giving a sigh, Taalli followed alongside him towards the classrooms her tired paws dragging every few steps.

Entering into the sparse classroom Taalli couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic, although the exposed fluorescent lights lined the ceiling instead of down lights, and the walls were covered in posters showing dragons in different deployments, some things about a classroom still stayed the same. The abraded white board at the front, with ghostly outlines of past lessons, the smell of cheap, uncleaned, thin carpet and the sudden feeling of anonymity from the teacher's gaze. Taalli and Riimack took a spot at the back of the class, Taalli contemplating if it was possible to get a few minutes of sleep before the lesson started, however the drill sergeants booming voice snuffed out any hope of a moment of rest.

"Cadets will shut their cum holes! Now!" Shouted the drill Sergeant, her voice silencing the class. Each of the dragons sat on the carpeted floor facing towards the front where the drill sergeant paced back and forth. Satisfied with the class's compliance she continued. "Tomorrow, you will be issued with your flight harness, often called a 'rig'. Now, to make sure you don't embarrass yourselves, we are going to start from the beginning." She announced before pulling out a nylon harness out from behind the podium and giving it to the class to pass around.

"This is a standard issue, class 10 flight rig. Modular in design, you will wear this at all times you are training or in a combat environment. That way when you get your ass put down, someone can drag your sorry ass to safety, am I understood?" She said loudly.

"Yes ma'am." The class echoed back.

"Now, if you survive long enough to become a specialist," she said while glaring at Taalli who was hiding at the back in Riimack's shadow. "You will be able to attach your gear onto the loops and straps. Every roll will mean carrying different gear, so I won't burden your smooth brains with the specifics just yet." She added, getting a chuckle from the class.

As the harness came around to Taalli, she gave it a quick inspection. The straps were made of a thick nylon with durable leather inserts on key areas that would chafe against her scales. While the harnesses she was used to would have a few simple pouches and loops, mainly for storing money and attaching shopping bags too, this was bristling with options to carry anything that was required. Across the front section that would wrap around her chest, was a collection of pouches which were sealed with Velcro. Pulling it open she inserted a paw to feel around inside, each pouch was wide with a soft mesh like fabric woven inside, being incredibly narrow with thick walls it didn't seem to be practical to carry much inside.

"Armoured plates, you put plates in it." whispered Riimack as he glanced to her and saw her confused look. Turning the harness over she could see a loop which would hang between her forelegs and another near the straps that ran up the groin. Looking up she saw the next dragon in line waiting to take a look and she quickly passed it over.

"Now! Who can tell me what this is?" The drill sergeant said, pulling Taalli's attention back to the front of the room. In her paw was a spool of thin steel cable with a carabiner at each end.

Riimack's deep voice reverberated in Taalli's chest as he spoke up, "wing sheer cable, ma'am."

"A wing sheer cable, or more accurately, a delta-600 tether. Once standard issue amongst dragons, once hooked to the underside of the harness, it was used to carry supplies and injured soldiers out of hot zones."

Taalli's eyes narrowed, the cable looked no thicker than what would be used on a handrail, or shade sail cloth.

With a confident smirk, the instructor addressed the class, her words laced with playful sarcasm. "Alright now, some of you look like strapping young drakes," she remarked, earning a soft chuckle from the assembled dragons. Taalli's cheeks reddened slightly as the attention momentarily shifted her way. "And some of you... well, maybe not so much," the instructor added, shooting a quick glance in Taalli's direction. "How much could you lift with this? Come on, don't be shy".

A chorus of confident voices rang out, each dragon eager to prove their strength. "I can lift 1000 pounds!" called out one enthusiastic dragon. "Ha! 1200 pounds!" retorted a larger dragon, his smug expression belying his claim. Another dragon flared his wings, a display of bravado, as he chimed in, "You think that's something? Weak wings! I can lift 1300 pounds all day long!"

Taalli, feeling somewhat overwhelmed, muttered softly to herself, her voice barely audible. "It doesn't matter." Her words seemed to slip away in the midst of the dragon's boastful claims, unnoticed by most. However, her attempt to blend into the background was shattered when the drill sergeant snapped her attention towards Taalli with a focused gaze.

The instructor's gaze bore into Taalli, her tone firm and uncompromising. "Got something to add, polished paws?" she questioned sharply, demanding a response. "Come on, spit it out. Why don't you think having big strong wings matters?" The weight of the sergeant's words pressed upon Taalli, causing her to shrink down.

Taalli swallowed, the whole class turning their heads to face her, their expressions mixed as they waited to judge her answer. "It doesn't matter how much you can lift," she muttered weakly, her voice barely audible in the hushed silence. As Riimack's tail brushed against hers, offering a small gesture of support, she found the strength to clear her throat and continue. The sergeant's encouraging nod spurred her on.

"The cable won't care how big your wings are, or how much you can lift. It will have a rating, probably 800lbs tops." she said, her voice gaining a hint of confidence. "Once you factor in the surge of G forces your wing beats create, you are probably looking at 600lbs. Probably where it gets its name too. Any more than that, and well..." She said her voice drifting off.

"Explain, what would happen if you loaded it up to, say, 1000 pounds as he suggested, or 1300 pounds?" The sergeant asked with an encouraging smirk from behind the rest of the class.

Taalli took a deep breath, looking at the whole class of stronger, more capable dragons causing her heart to race. "Best case scenario, it breaks at the top, you lose whatever you are carrying." She said and received a nod from the sergeant before continuing, "worst case, it breaks at the bottom. That cable will have so much tension in it..." She said and saw the dumbstruck faces of the rest of the class, Riimack's tail gave hers a small nudge to continue. "Like I said, it won't care how big your wings are, scales, muscle, bone.... It's coming back at you, and won't stop if you are in the way..." She said, her voice trailing off at the thought.

"Cadet Taalli is right. Many a dragon has lost a wing doing something stupid with one of these, hence the name 'wing sheer cable'. We will issue you equipment, we will show you how to use it. But! If you decide not to respect the gear, it will fuck you up twelve ways to Sunday." She said firmly.

"Well-done" whispered Riimack, his voice just loud enough for her to hear as he looked on ahead. Taalli couldn't help but feel a warmth creeping up her scales, causing a gentle blush to tinge her cheeks. She quickly refocused her attention, determined not to let her emotions distract her from the task at hand.

Meanwhile, the drill sergeant continued her demonstration, shifting her focus to other essential aspects of their gear. With every word and gesture, she highlighted the importance of each item and the consequences of mishandling them.

Taalli stepped into the barracks, tired and dragging her tail, the long building offering no privacy for the dragons who were already settling down on their cushions. A few errant drops of water still clinging to her scales as she padded her way along the rows and rows of simple beds. She had waited until she was the last in the mess hall before heading to the showers to make sure she was alone when she scrubbed herself clean, the last of the scale paint now gone, revealing her dull, faded orange scales.

With her head held low, Taalli treaded cautiously along the aisles, the heavy weight of the AT4 swinging into her shoulders with every step. Her tired eyes avoiding the piercing gazes of the other dragons, their judgmental stares felt like hot coals on her scales. As she passed by, one of the males couldn't resist taunting her, sprawled out lazily on his side, his wing raised in a seductive gesture, a smug grin adorning his brown snout.

"Hey, pretty, you can sleep right here!" he jeered, his tone dripping with arrogance. Taalli ignored him, keeping her focus straight ahead, determined not to let his words shake her already fragile resolve.

"Oh, leave her alone!" Shouted another before sending a pillow at the lounging dragon. She gave a small nod of thanks to the dragon who threw the pillow and kept walking. Passing by Riimack's bunk, a pang of loneliness washed over her, his guard duties keeping him away from the barracks tonight. Her mind drifting to how she was going to get any sleep while surrounded by the thirsty looking males. A shiver ruining through her body at the memory of Jeenik pinning her down, how helpless she had felt.

As she made her way to the only vacant bed she paused, it wasn't the uncomfortable looking, heavy canvas sheet that covered the bed or the small footlocker that caught her attention, but the magazine that had been placed on the centre of the bed that made her heart stop beating.

She had seen the harness catalogue a thousand times while growing up, a familiar orange dragoness sprawled out on her back leaving very little to the imagination. The dragoness on the cover was dripping wet, yet the harness they were modelling was dry, the tag line in a pink cursive font provoking a sultry image as it read "I'm still wet". The face of Taalli's mother looking back at her from the cover, caused her chest to tighten. The paws and wing arms that had been crudely coloured in with a black sharpie made her jaw clench. The sight of a fresh load of milky white dragon cum across the front cover and onto her bed made her eyes tear up.

"You still wet, Taalli?" Chided Jeenik with a snicker, his green eyes twinkling in mischief, the laughter from some of the other dragons causing her to turn and run. Her vision blurry as she bolted out of the barracks and into the night, her heart pounding in her chest as she galloped across the assembly area, tears streaming down her face, her tired wingtips clipping the ground as she ran across the assembly area, making a direct line towards the racks to of training launchers.

She slowed to a trot as she approached the racks, sitting back on her haunches as she used her paws to quickly pull the AT4 off from around her neck. Looking down at the tattered harness that she had used as a makeshift sling she contemplated taking it with her, the thoughts of what the rest of the flight would do with it causing her to shudder.

Suddenly, a soft whistle pierced through the night air, causing Taalli's head to snap up, her eyes wide and alert. Her pupils dilated as she scanned the surroundings, searching for the source of the sound that disrupted her troubled thoughts. The silhouette of a familiar figure caught her attention, perched atop one of the guard towers. It was Riimack, even in the moonlight she could see his playful smile, his playful teasing reached her ears, coaxing a hint of a smile to tug at the corners of her weary mouth.

"Hey there, not saying goodbye?" Riimack's voice rang out, laced with warmth and mischief. "I can't leave my post, so you'll have to come up here," he added, leaning his head and neck over the handrails before playfully giving a tilt of his head to encourage her up.

A wave of guilt washed over her at the thought of leaving without saying thank-you to the one dragon who had tried to help her in the mess hall. With a sigh she extended her tired wings and launched towards the tower, the night air causing her cramping muscles to protest as she flapped a few times before gliding across the assembly area. As the tower neared, she executed a swift flare, her wings spreading wide before she landed on the platform, her tired paws landing with a soft thud.

The guard tower, elevated a few stories above the surrounding buildings, greeted her with its simple yet sturdy structure. A basic handrail encircled the perimeter, offering a semblance of stability for the humans who would occupy this post. Riimack's large body took up most of the platform, but he had moved himself to give her as much room as possible to land.

Folding her wings, she looked up at the big dragon, her voice wavering as she wiped her snout with a paw, "this, this isn't me." She whimpered and sat down on the platform. Looking out over the academy, her bloodshot eyes lingering on the emblem of a silver dragon painted in the centre of the assembly area. Riimack glanced to her but silently listened, "I don't know what I was thinking coming here." She added before turning to look into the distance.

A heavy silence hung in the air, Riimack fidgeted with his claws before looking at the sullen 'ness. "So, what were you thinking? What is so bad out there, that you thought coming here was the play?" He asked softly and gave a weak smile when she turned her head to look at him. "What? You're going to leave anyway, why can't I know?" He said and lay down on the platform before folding his paws over one another. Taalli held his gaze for as long as she could before turning away, looking to the tree line.

With a heavy sigh she adjusted her wings, glancing back at Riimack she could tell he was still waiting for an answer, His intense gaze, framed by his captivating blue eyes, bore into her, silently urging her to confide in him. "It's a family thing, you wouldn't understand." She said flatly and focused back on the tree line.

Riimack emitted a dry chuckle, tinged with a touch of amusement. "Try me," he retorted, his voice devoid of emotion, a challenge hanging in the air. When Taalli remained silent, he pressed further, determined to elicit a response. "Come on, almost everyone here has a fucked-up family. I bet it's not that bad," he added, hoping to goad her into answering him.

Taalli stood up to leave, glancing back to him as she slowly opened her wings. "My father threatened to kill my boyfriend, then had him arrested because he was more valuable alive then dead. Then I tried to stand up to him and he thrashed me around his office. " She said before crouching down to launch herself into the sky.

As Taalli's revelation hung in the air, Riimack's gaze fell to his paws, his eyes fixated on their intricate details, a mask of contemplation adorning his face. "My sire used to beat me too, all of us actually." He said softly as she turned to look at him, "my mom first, until she left. Then my older sister, until she left too. Then it was just me and my brother." He said weakly, concentrating on imaginary grime on his claws. Taalli relaxed her hind legs, bringing her wings in as she listened.

His voice void of all merriment as he focused intently on his paws, "they say you don't get to choose your family, but what I did... I chose to do it, and honestly, I don't think I regret it." he confessed, his words laden with a mixture of conviction and unresolved emotions. He sniffled, a subtle attempt to suppress the welling tide of his own feelings. "Discipline... That's what the judge said. Apparently, I lacked discipline. Should have left it to the police, he said. Funny really, I think that's why my brother became a cop." He said and glanced to her confused face. With a flicker of a smile he continued, "Dad came home one day, drunk and stinking of piss, as usual. Looking for someone to vent on, and I... I don't remember how exactly, I just remember the mess." Riimack confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze shifted to his claws, the metallic sheen of his silver talons glinting in the moonlight. He flexed his toes, a reflexive gesture intertwined with the memory of the sticky, gruesome substance that clung to his paws.

"Let's just say, prison isn't a nice place, not for a fledgling." he stated matter-of-factly, his eyes now directed skyward towards the full moon, "after five shitty years, my brother helped me get a deal. Spend the rest of my time "in service of something greater." I believe his words to the judge were." He sniffed back his emotions and blinked a few times before looking at Taalli. "I'm not saying I've got it worse than you, I just want you to know you are not alone. Like I said, most of the dragons here are in a similar nest."

Taalli couldn't hold his gaze and looked back over the tree line. "Fucking family." She said flatly and smiled when Riimack blurted a laugh. Her eyes flicked to his and saw that he was still watching her. "So would you pick prison or here?" She asked.

"Here, every day of the week." He said without hesitation. "Being able to fly is worth the drill sergeant's shouting." He chuckled. She gave a few soft nods as she contemplated what it would be like to never be able to fly, an aspect of prison life that she had not thought of. "I would go on, but I don't have a window to look out of, and it's not even raining." He teased, his smile wide but even she could see the twinge of pain in his eyes. It was clear that his silver scales were not the only armour he wore.

Taalli sat in silence next to the silver dragon, her tired mind now even more clouded with her decision to leave. Sensing her confliction, he leaned in close, "May I make an observation?" He said and saw her glance back at him briefly. "You look like shit." he added with a smile as she turned to look at him, her eyes burning into him. "You said you flew through the night, with no sleep, been pinned twice today -sorry about that by the way- and been forced to carry a weight around your neck. Not to mention that the rest of the flight have been such amazing hosts."

Taalli's response was curt and devoid of enthusiasm, "And your point is?"

The silver dragon's smile remained, undeterred by her despondency. He gestured towards the distant tree line, his gaze holding a glimmer of understanding. "My point is that you're still here," he stated softly. "I mean, whatever it is that's out there for you, it must be rough. Or else you would have left as soon as Sarg started picking on you. or after that incident at breakfast." He said and glanced back to her.

"I AM going to leave though, I didn't even make it through my first day," Taalli's voice quivered with sadness as she gazed down at the rows of launchers sprawled across the assembly area, her AT4 standing alone, adorned with her old harness.

Riimack let out a soft chuckle, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "You won't leave, not tonight." he teased and saw her glance to him with a stern expression, "Your wings won't get you two miles." he added, his tone devoid of any sugarcoating. "You are tired, pissed off and unfocused. Not a good combo for making a big decision like throwing yourself at whatever's out there." he said simply. "Sleep on it, the academy isn't going anywhere between now and tomorrow morning, and whatever is out there can wait."

Taalli tried to think, the fog of exhaustion and lack of sleep clouding her mind. "I, I don't want to go back to the barracks." she finally said, thinking back to the grotesque magazine that probably still rested on her bed.

"So don't, sleep here instead." Riimack said and patted the guard tower platform with a paw, seeing her sceptical look he smiled, "I keep telling you, Waaaay out of your league." he said with a laugh, feeling better when she smiled and slowly lay down next to him.

"Thank-you." she muttered, rolling onto her side and turning so her back was facing him, curling into a tight ball on the platform. With her head resting on her tail, she extended a tired wing over her to shut out the world.

Riimack returned to watching over the academy, he knew there wasn't any actual threats out there, but the chances of the drill sergeant performing a drill was still high. His blue eyes focused on the tree line, his pupils dilated wide to take in as much light as possible. Glancing down at the orange dragoness next to him he could tell she was still awake, her breathing still too rapid for her to be asleep, but he kept quiet and maintained his vigil and let her think.

"Riimack" Taalli murmured and waited for him to grunt an acknowledgment. "Do you think I could be a killer?" she asked softly, her head still tucked under her wing, her mind in turmoil at the thought, what Mike would think, how she would feel after she made a kill. Her mind torn in every which way as she tried to process what would happen if she stayed, what the academy would turn her into if she chose this life long term.

"I wouldn't dwell on that," he said softly, seeing her pull her wing back from her face, her amber eyes looking up to his for guidance, he took a deep breath and continued, "I didn't think I could. Hell, if you had of asked me that day, I would have said no. But when the moment comes, it just happens." he said and looked away to the tree line again, unable to hold her gaze. "I'm not ashamed of what I did, but I don't think it's the killing that is important. It's the why." he added, pausing while he thought, "The way I see it, is there will be people suffering at the hands of others, some are strong enough to fight, others need people and dragons like us to help them."

Taalli thought about his words before speaking, her voice hardly a whisper, "Do you think I could do it? Kill that is?" She asked, hoping for some kind of wisdom from the stronger dragon.

Riimack flicked his eyes to hers, his expression serious, "Jury is out on that one, I'm afraid. Physically, you don't look the part. But this place will fix that." he chuckled, "Looking at you, the scale paint you were wearing, I would say something was going very good, and then went very bad. At first, I would have thought you were maybe a bit dense, coming to the military like you did, but I have never seen a dragon look at a cable and be able to tell me its strength. So, you clearly have a head on you." He said while rotating his head left and right in thought as he looked her up and down. "I'm keen for you to stay, the rest of the dragon's here are quite dull." He said with a friendly smile. Taalli gave a small smile before she drew her wing back over her, her mind still undecided.

"Maybe, don't think about if you could, but maybe think what you would kill for." He mused while looking over the assembly grounds. "But try to get some sleep, god knows you need it." He said softly and continued his watch, his eyes slowly scanning from the assembly area to the tree line for imaginary hostiles, every so often he would glance down at Taalli and smiled when he saw her breathing slow down as she drifted off to sleep.

Taalli held Mike close, his body firm against her chest as she wrapped her arms around his body, holding him tight like it was the last time she could. Smiling to herself, she ran her front paws down his back, his skin felt gritty causing her brow to furrow as she kept her eyes closed. Moving her other paw to where his head should be she felt around for his hair, only finding a hard almost rubber like material, her eyes flicking open and looking down she sighed. Nestled between her front paws, clutched tightly to her chest was her AT4 launcher.

Glancing around in embarrassment she saw Riimack, his head resting on the handrail of the guard tower platform, his eyes unfocused and half open as he watched the dawn sun slowly make its way over the horizon. Taalli yawned deeply, causing him to flick his eyes to her and smile as she woke up. "Hey beautiful." he said, his voice deliberately low and sultry. Lifting his head with a chuckle as he saw her eyes go wide. "Oh relax, you wish." he said sleepily. "I brought you your emotional support launcher, you looked like you needed it." he said softly.

Taalli slowly rolled onto her feet and looked around blearily, "What time is it?" she mumbled. Taalli was used to rising when the sun did, but often that was delayed by the curtains in her room. Her body feeling stiff as she stretched her neck and gave it a shake to loosen up her muscles, the dull ache of yesterday's activities still ebbing at her body.

"Well, in about five minutes time, the drill sergeant is going to start screaming." he said sleepily and stood up, scrunching his eyes up as he tensed his body and flared his wings, the large blue membranes covering Taalli as she slowly stood up. "Sometimes I think she was a rooster in her last life." he muttered as he folded his wings tight against his body. "Come on, she will expect you in your bunk." he said and gave her a nudge with a wing before stepping off the handrail, his wings flaring briefly as he glided down to the ground.

Taalli shook her head and watched him land before doing the same, her mind still undecided on if leaving or staying was the right thing to do. While the hard guard tower platform was a far cry from her soft bed at home, she couldn't deny it was nice to get a few hours' sleep. As she touched down on the assembly area, she picked up the pace to walk alongside Riimack. His words of what she would kill for still cycling in her mind, the thoughts of Mike and keeping him safe forever etched in her mind, the knowledge that if she went back, her father would still use Mike against her, her solution of disappearing still the only thought she had to keep them both safe.

Riimack gestured for her to go first with a flutter of his wing and a dramatic bow, his smile infectious as she entered the barracks. She had only taken a few steps in before her heart sank. Looking down the centre of the building she could see the drill sergeant standing at the foot of her bed, a silver whistle in her maw. Even though Taalli was expecting it, the sharp shrill of the whistle caused her to flinch.

"ALL CADETS WILL WAKE UP! NOW! NOW! NOW! UP! UP! Move it Cadets, I am not your mommy, and I will not be kind." she bellowed, all of the dragons quickly rolling over and hastily sitting to attention next to their bunks in various states of alertness. "If I see your dick out, I will slash it. Wake up Cadets!" she barked.

Riimack gave Taalli a firm shove and they both quickly padded down the length of the barracks and took their place next to their bunks. Taalli felt like prey being so close to the drill sergeant but did what the others were doing and stared straight ahead. The drill sergeant gave Taalli a subtle nod before walking down the line of bunks, her voice loud and sharp as she addressed them all. "All Cadets will open their lockers and spread the contents of them onto their beds. Now!" she cried. The sudden movement of all the dragons grabbing their foot lockers and upending them as requested startled Taalli, but she quickly did the same. Opening her locker however revealed nothing inside so she placed it back down with the lid open. Looking around she could see the other cadets had a variety of personal items, some music players, scale polish and harness magazines being the common items.

The drill sergeant started at one end of the line, silently looking at the contents each dragon had upended on their bed, her violet eyes making a mental inventory of each dragon's personal effects. The entire flight was silent as she slowly walked up, deliberately turning her head to each bed. "It seems like all of you are budding fashion designers I see." she cried, "It looks to me, like you would rather spend your evenings discussing the latest in harness fashion, than get some rest." She added with a smirk. "And here I was, thinking you needed that beauty sleep." she added.

Moving down the line she paused at Jeenik's bunk, looking down at his sleeping cushion she then turned to him. "Cadet Jeenik, I see that you are an exception it seems. Unlike the rest of your flight, you seem to be missing a harness catalogue. or perhaps you have misplaced it" she said loudly for the whole room to hear.

"Ma'am?" Jeenik asked, his voice trembling slightly.

The drill sergeant ignored his question and turned to the rest of the flight. "It seems Jeenik here is missing out on the latest fashion articles. And because I am so very fond of equality in my flight. All cadets will collect their harness magazines with your mouths and report to the assembly area with them now!" she barked. "I said NOW!" she added, and the rest of the flight quickly grabbed their magazines and filed out of the barracks.

Taalli looked to her bunk, the soiled magazine still laying on the top, its white gooey seed now soaked into the pages causing the ink to run. "Cadet Jeenik! You will assist Cadet Taalli, by carrying her magazine!" barked the drill sergeant. The green dragon swallowed and moved towards Taalli's bed, collecting the magazine with a tentative paw. "WITH YOUR MOUTH CADET!" screamed the drill sergeant into his ear. With a grimace he took the magazine and held it by the corner and filled in with the rest of the flight, Taalli meanwhile trying hard not to smile at his reaction.

Taalli was one of the last to file out of the barracks, the drill sergeant following behind. Once in the assembly area the drill sergeant quickly moved to the front. "All cadets will place their magazines in a pile in front of me. Now!" he commanded, one by one the dragons would step forwards and drop off their collection at her feet. Taalli watched as the pile steadily grew bigger, before long all of the dragons stood empty mouthed and watched the drill sergeant with anxious expressions.

"Because Jeenik here, is such a prude when it comes to fashion magazines, Magazines which I have been so gracious about you having. From now on, any fashion magazine is now contraband and will be destroyed on sight. Am I understood cadets!" she cried, her voice echoing off the tin buildings.

"Yes, Ma'am" groaned the cadets, their eyes burning into Jeenik's back as he sat to attention.

The drill sergeant gave a deep inhale and Taalli's eyes widened as a jet of crisp orange flame erupted from the sergeant's fire glands, the warmth of her breath quickly washing away the morning chill as the paper magazines were engulfed in fire. The mass of soft-core porn quickly disintegrating in front of the cadets as she snapped her jaws shut and started to pace at the front of the cadets, the crackle of the magazines burning a soft background noise to the cadet's thoughts.

"Some of you here," the drill sergeant called out, her voice ringing through the assembly of cadets, "are proving that you ain't worth a damn in this academy." With her head held high, she strutted confidently amidst the crowd. "Some of you seem to think this place is a fancy hotel, where you can come and go as you please, fool around like there's no tomorrow!" Her words struck a chord with Taalli, making her straighten her posture and pay closer attention.

"Need I remind you, whom of which this grand academy is named after! This academy is named after the royal protector of King Ashan, once a mighty nation of the Persian empire, SHE was King Ashan's loyal bodyguard, trained to be a shield, to defend their nation's most precious asset. An icon of leadership and strength to the nation's people." She thundered.

Taalli's eyes flicked to the silver dragon emblem that had been painted onto the assembly area's concrete before turning back to the drill sergeant as she continued. "The silver dragoness, Aurelia, was a constant protector to the nation's ruler. Ready to serve her duties at moment's notice. When assassins came for her charge, Aurealia did not hesitate, nor did she faulter. She did what she was trained to do and threw herself at the enemy. She relied on her training, her discipline, and god's given gifts to protect her charge." The drill sergeant blared. "When she was injured, when she teetered on the brink of death and could not fight any more, what did she do?" The sergeant asked rhetorically, "She licked her wounds, picked herself up and she returned. Eager to continue her service to her nation. So, I ask you this! Will you do what is necessary, should the time come!?"

The flight thundered back in unison, "Yes, drill sergeant!" The resounding reply filled the air as they beat their wings heavily against their sides. Taalli's mind drifted to Mike--the image of his innocent face while being handcuffed by the police, the video she had made, and the place she found herself in now. The parallels between the actions of the King's guard and her own predicament sent a tingling sensation through her scales. Casting her eyes across the assembled dragons, their bodies honed into lethal machines, memories of how effortlessly her father had overpowered her tightened her jaw. The thought of what might have happened if she possessed the same level of training as the dragons around her widened her eyes with endless possibilities. If she truly aimed to safeguard Mike, this was the very place where she could learn how.

"At this prestigious academy, I will mold you to be a killer, I will shape you to be both a weapon and shield, I will teach you to be the baddest mother fucker, on god's green earth. If you do not see yourself as all four, then I will gladly show you the fucking door. Am I understood Cadets"?

"Yes, drill sergeant!" the cadets bellowed, their wings clapping against their sides in synchronization.

The drill sergeant allowed a smug smirk to creep onto her face. "You know, I reckon retirement might just be on the horizon," she mused aloud. "Can't seem to hear a gad damn thing anymore."

"YES, DRILL SERGEANT!" the flight roared in response, the thunderous sound of their wings reverberating off the cold, unforgiving concrete.

Casting a sidelong glance at the fiery orange dragoness, the drill sergeant inquired, "Still here, Taalli?"

A lump formed in Taalli's throat, but she mustered her resolve and sat up rigidly, her gaze fixed ahead. "Yes, drill sergeant," she called out.

"Yes, what?" the sergeant prodded, her voice demanding a definitive response.

Locking her amber eyes with the drill sergeant's steely gaze, Taalli uttered with unwavering determination, "Yes, I am still here drill sergeant."